Internal-combustion engine



c. SUMMERS l xNTsnmL GOMBUSTIQN Mmmmy med out. 27. 1921 5 sheets-sheet 1 Jan. 5 1926. 1,568,638

c. E. suMMERs INTERNAL coMusTIoN ENGINE Filed Oct. 27, 1921 5 sheets-sheet 2 gf; 7105s es l rufen/0f Jan. s 1926. I

c. E. SUMMERS INTERNAL coMusTIoN ENGINE' Fil d o t 27 1921 Jan. 5 1926. 1,568,638

c. E. sUMMERs INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed not. 27, 1921 5 sheets-sheet 4 Jain. 5 1926.

Y w 1,568,638 c. E. suMMERs INTERNAL co'MUsTIoN ENGINE Filed Oct. 27. 1921 @Sheets-Sheet 5 ly reduce the pressure developed in the compression stroke and consequently greatly decrease the efficiency-of the engine ywhen operating under such conditions, as it is well recognized that higher compression gives greater efiiciency.` l

In the present invention, a substantially full charge of working fluid is introduced under all running conditions so that full compression may be had. c

Further, in the present invention, in order to decrease the power out ut, the supply of fuel vis proportioned to tlhe power out-v put desired, while the supply of air remains nearly constant, means being provided whereby the ratio of fuel to air may be decreased tov a considerably smaller one than that which is now considered possible, and yet have good ignition and combustion. In fact, it is possible with the present invention to operate with ratios, by weight, of one to forty and less, depending upon the exact construction used.

The above functions are accomplished by means of the form of engine illustrated as the preferred embodiment 4of the invention.

In this preferred embodiment, standard engine construction is used below the cylinder head and the desired functions obtained by modifying the cylinder head and fuel supply devices. From one aspect of the invention, therefore, it may be considered as being embodied in a c linder head portion as an article of manu acture, which head portion is adapted tobe applied to an existing engine in place of the head with which it is usual to construct it, such application involving no change whatever in the engine structure except the substitution of somewhat higher pistons to decrease the size of the main combustion chamber an amount equal to the capacity of the auxiliary chamber hereinafter described.

In the drawings, (Fig. l) a standard engine cylinder is represented in section at 20, 21 indicating the water jacket and 22 indicating a spark plug projecting into the combustion chamber numbered 23. The piston is indicated at 24.

- v In the'form shown, the engine is indicated as being provided with a removable head and this head involves certain modifications about -to be described. lt should be noted, however, that the invention is not limited to this type of engine as it applies equally bustion chamber is also provided with a spark plug 32 projecting thereinto and an intake valve 33, adapted to open or close the intake passage 34, and provided with the usual stem, 35, and valve spring 36.

This valve is o eratedfby means of'a small lateral arm 3 u Y on the rocker arm 38 for intake valve 40, t e two valves 33 and 40` adapted to operate simultaneously.

Chamber 30 may also be provided with a screw plug 41 opposite to the valve 33 to permit removal or grinding of the latter. A modified-form of auxiliary chamber is shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

- IIn this form, the chamber 30 communicates with the combustion chamber 23 through two passages 31 and 31" opening thereinto in the positions indicated in Fig. 5.

`Chamber 30 is also provided with an opening 34: forming an intake passage and 'seat for a valve similar to passagell and valve 33 as shown in Fig.y 1. c

In chamber 30 however, instead of locating the spark plug` as in Fig. 1, and having an additional plug 41 for allowing withdrawal ofthe valve, an opening 42 is provided, which opening serves 'for attaching the spark plug as well as permitting withdrawal of the valve. It will be noted that this opening 42 is located in such fashion as to have the spark plug electrodes (not shown) between the inner ends of passages 31 and 31" so that gases passing into or out of the passages do not pass'direetly over these electrodes.

In the form of head shown the passages for cooling water are indicated at 21.

Fig. 6 shows a plan of the cylinder head and is intended to show the manner iny which fuel may be supplied to the chamber 30 or 30 of the several cylinders, the 'engine illustrated having 6 cylinders.

A. fuel-air mixture of about one fuelto from about three to tive of air is formed in the carburetor hereinafter described, and led therefrom through pipe 5() to a header 51. The opening into the header may or may not be controlled by means of a valve 52 for 'the purpose of controlling to some extent the gas velocities. From the header 51 there extend laterally of the header, but longitudinally of the engine, several tubes leading to the several cylinders. These tubes are shown in'Figs. 6 and 7 and are numbered 53, 54; and 55. 'lube 53 extends to the nearest cylinder, 54 to the next, and

chambers 30, and the other being led directly into the standard intake manifold from v which it passes through valves 40 to the main combustion chambers 23 of the respective cylinders.

The carburetor is clearl shown in Figs. 6 and 8 to 11 and, in the orm shown, is of the horizontal feed type. A It is designated as a whole by the numeral 60.`

Carburetor 60, however, differs from the ordinary carburetor, in several respectsbecause of the fact that it forms and controls two sepa-rate mixtures.

As in the ordinary form the present carburetorA comprises a float bowl 61 supplied with fuel from a suitable source through pipe 62, the supplybeing controlled by a valve (not shown) operated by float 63.

The carburetor comprises also a T-shaped tube 65, one end of the cross-arm leading to the intake manifold and being provided with al butterfly throttle valve 66. The other/end of the cross-arm of the T is venturishaped and constitutes t-he main air inlet. f In the form shown, a separate v. venturi-shaped member 67 has been inserted in the tube 65 and' secured-by suitable means, v

(not shown).

The -stem ofthe T constitutes an auxiliary airf` inlet and Ais provided with a spring closed valve 68, this valve allowing admission of air, but restricting such admission so as to increase the velocity of flow through venturi 67.

The cover for the float bowl, besides the 4inlet for fuel, is provided with two passages 70 and 71, the tirst of which is connected to tube and the second to an annular passage 72 around the venturi member 67 f This passage 72 is connectedby twov or more passages 73 to the throat of the venturi 67 as shown' in Fig. l1.

In the construction shown, vt-he cover of the float bowl 61 is provided with a central opening into which fits a thimble'75 provided with openings in its bottonrfor the fuel jets 76 and 77.

In the form shown, the bottom of the thimble 75 isffirst bored for the fuell jets 76 and 77, then counterbored to form chambers 78 and 79 around the jets, thesechambers extending far enough toward the center to openinto a passage 80 allowing ingress `ot air for the primary mixture formed in said chambers.

Immediately above the jets 76 and 77 and supported upon the part of the thimble bottom not removed by the counterboring koperation isa disc 81 provided with three passages 82, 83 and 84. The passages 82 and 83 are directly above and spaced from the jets 76 and 77 and the passage 84 is centrally located and large enough to extend over a portion of and therefore communicate with the two chambers 78 and 79.

`Resting upon discY 81 is anotherl disc 85 provided at its center with an opening around which is a tubular portion 86 which forms auf extension to the atmosphere of passage 80.

. Disc 1s also provided with two other openings 87 and 88 of substantially .the

'shape shown in Fig.` 10, and is rotatable in a horizontal plane. Ihe openings 87 and 88 are adapted to control the passage ways 70 and 71. Y.

Disc 85 is .held in place within thimble-75 by means of a suitable plug 89 and spring washer 90, the, plug 89 being provided with l In this gure, an arm is shown'as secured to tube 86 by means of a set"screW, l

the outer end of the arm 101 being adapted to be connected by means of a suitable rod4 to a hand lever suitably located.

Also secured to tube 86 is a second arm 'i A 105, which in the construction shown is 9 integral with arm 100 and carries at its outer end a screw 106 by means of which a sliding connection is established with link 107 forming operating means for vthrottle control arm 108. `'The movement of this arm 108 is limited by suitable stops 109. Arm 108 is attached to butterfly throttle.v valve 66,

tending to retain. it in open position.

In Fig. 6, the connection between passage 71- and the annular passage 72 (Fig. l1)

is shownas being through tube 115.

- which is provided with a suitable spring In the operation ot the form of engine shown, for example for idling, the throttle valve 66 arms 100 and 105, and disc 85 are set inthe positions shown in Figs. 6, 10 and 11. In this position it will be noted. that disc 85 isso positioned that a small amount of mixture is passing through as,-

sage 7 O'and tube 50 into the tubes lea ing to auxiliar combustion chambers 30while substantial y no fuel is 4passing through passage 7l to the main intake of the engine.

The result of this setting will be that upon the intake stroke of the piston only air will be drawninto chamber 23, while a small amount of a fairly rich mixture will'be `taken into chamber 30.

Upon the closing ofthe two intake valves 40 and 33 and the compression stroke of the p1ston,.a portion of the air fromchamber 423 will be forced linto chamber 30,v diluting the rich mixture therein to a degree suitable for proper combustion,

The compressed mixture in chamber 30 is then fired by means of spark plug 32, where- Lacasse upon the hot exhaust gases with some name will rush through opening 31,i heating the air therein so that the entire quantity of ygas in the total combustion chamber will and 88 (see Fig. 10).

beexpzmded, thus producing the power imiulse. l Upon operating the throttlecontrol lever to produce more power or speed, the arm 100 is moved counterclockwise, carrying with it the disc 85. rlhis movement, it will be noted,causes rapid opening of passage 70 and a very much slower opening of passage 71 on account'ot' vthe shape oit openings 87 At the same time on account of its spring, the butterfly valve 66 willl open until, with about 40% of the movement of arm 105, it becomes wide open and will remain so doing the balance of the movement of arm 105.

rihe movement of arms 100 and 105, will, besides that function just mentioned, rapidly increase the amount 'of mixture admitted to chamber until about one` half of said movement has been completed and further movement will as rapidly decrease such admission. i

At the same time, opening 88 will be in-v creased'slowly, the rate of increase being also increased until the end of the throw ot arm 100 when it will have reached-its maximum.

Openingl 87 will by that time be substantially closed and the engine will beoperating.

- as a normal engine, that is, it'will be receiving its charge in the normal may through the intakevalve 40. f y' i Itv'should be noted .that instead of the form of double carburetor herein'described any suitable form may be used `provided itcan be controlled in the manner indicated, there may be substituted even, two separate lcarburatore it they are properly Vregulated and linked together in such manner as to produce the required results. Further is should also be no the form of mechanism herein shown and described constitutes a preferred form of embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that other forms mightv be adopted, all coming within thescope of the claims which follow. l

What l claim is as follows: `1. The method of operating an internal combustion engine which comprises supplyf ing to each of the cylinderslthereof atene portion, a charge' varying from air,'at and under about eigbhth load, to an eiiicient fuel air mixture at full load, while simultaneous--v l 'supplying to another portion of the cyliners an elicient fuel air mixture, andv ignit- ,2. The method of operating an internal combustion engine which -comprises supplying to each of the cylinders thereof at separate points and simultaneously, two fuel air mixtures, one of the mixtures varying in ted that while combustion engine which consists of deliv-.

ering to each cylinder in successive cycles charges of' substantially equal volumes of combustible working'luid in segregated portions successively compressing said charges, varying the power .output by varying vthe `fuelcontent of lat least one of the segre-v gated portions While maintaining the lother portion lsuliciently richv in fuel to be ignited by a spark and igniting,'after compression, the last namedportion of the charge.

combustion engine,

means for supplying tothe cylinders there- 5. In an internal ot two fuel-air charges with means for varying the composition 'of one of the charges from. air. alone to an efficient fuel-air mixture while, theother remains -substantially l Afixed inv composition; means for retaining' the two charges' substantially segregatedl during compression; andmeans for directly igniting the said other charge. y -l- '6. 1n an internal combustion engine a .ica

cylinder having-v an Vintake and an exhaust y valve and igniting' means and also having tioned combustion'chamberi'- 4- 7. As an article of manufacture, a detach-` able head portion for multicylinder inter-- .nal combustion engines, comprising a cylinder head block provided'with intake-andv exhaust ports for the cylinders; valves for the said ports; an auxiliary combustion 'chamber inthe head and open to that face of the block adapted toform a Wall, of the main combustion chamber; `intake means for the "auxiliary chamber, including a valve; 1 means iter actuating all of the valves; means vfor supplying separate charges of working fluid .to said intake `port land said intake means; and means forigniting at least oney ofsaidfchar. V i 7 a combustion chamber therein; an auxiliary l@ i combustion chambersmaller than and c0in-. municatin'g with the "first mentionedA chamber,the auxiliary chamber. being provided 8. As an article of manufacture, a detachable head portion for multicylinder internal combustion engines, comprising a cylinder head block provided with intake and exhaust ports for the cylindersyvalves for the said ports; an auxiliary combustion chamber in the head and open to that face of the block adapted to form a Wall of the main combustion chamber; means for passing cooling fluid into contact With the outer walls of the ports and chambers; intake means for the auxiliary chamber, including a valve; means for actuating all of the valves; means for supplying separate charges of working fluid to said intake port and said intake means; and means for ignitling at least one of said charges.

9. As an article of manufacture, a detachable hea-d portion for an internal combustion engine cylinder, the said head portion including an intake port and valve;

said head portion also including an auxiliary combustion chamber provided with intake means. and a valve therefor; means 'for operating both said valves simultaneously; and means for supplying different Working fluid charges through the two valves.

l0. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder structure providing, with the piston, a main combustion chamber having vvalved intake and exhaust ports, communieating. therewith and an igniting means therein; and an auxiliary combustion chamber having restricted communication with the main combustion chamber, a Valved inlet communicating with the auxiliary chamber and igniting means Within said auxiliary chamber.

In testimony whereof I hereto aix my signature.

CALEB E. SUMMERS. 

